Treatment of Ocular Surface Disease in Ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid.

Abstract

Purpose: While substantial research has focused on systemic immunomodulatory therapy for ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP), limited data exist on managing associated ocular surface disease (OSD). This study evaluates treatments for OCP-related OSD at our institution.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with cicatrizing conjunctivitis at the University of Colorado Hospital from January 1, 2013, to October 31, 2023. Patients with cicatrizing conjunctivitis due to non-OCP conditions were excluded, and disease severity was classified using the Foster Staging System.

Results: Our review included 30 patients with OCP, all with at least six months of follow-up. The mean age of symptom onset (n = 19) was 62.2 years (SD = 16.4), while the mean age at diagnosis (n = 28) was 65.1 years (SD = 12.7). The most common OSD treatments at the last visit were preservative-free artificial tears (87%), topical corticosteroids (43%), autologous serum eye drops (40%), topical antibiotics (30%), and topical immunomodulators (23%). All patients used at least one treatment, with 83.3% on prescription therapies. Patients averaged 3.33 (SD: 1.4) treatments, with 1.7 (SD: 1.2) being prescriptions. Topical immunomodulators had the highest discontinuation rate at 73.1% (n = 19/26). Autologous serum eye drops and topical corticosteroids were the least discontinued treatments. Number of total treatments, prescriptions, and procedures sharply increased at stage three OCP.

Conclusions: The number of treatments and procedures increased with OCP severity, indicating that advanced OCP often necessitated more intensive OSD management.